WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 8, 2016) — U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) was presented with the Teach For America Congressional Champion Award on Monday for her continued efforts to expand educational opportunities for students in Hawai‘i and across the nation.

Hirono was presented with the award in her office by executive director of Teach For America-Hawai‘i Jill Baldemor and members of Teach For America’s Native Alliance Initiative, which works hand-in-hand with tribes and Native communities to expand educational opportunities for their students.

“Teach For America–Hawai‘i is incredibly grateful for Senator Hirono’s unwavering support for Teach For America in Hawaii and Washington, D.C.,” said Jill Baldemor, executive director of Teach For America–Hawai‘i. “Senator Hirono has been a champion for quality alternative certification programs, competitive grants such as SEED that enable excellent teacher training and support, and AmeriCorps funding to support those willing to dedicate themselves to serving our most vulnerable populations. She has demonstrated unparalleled leadership in supporting Asian American and Pacific Islander teachers and students through Teach For America’s Native Alliance Initiative.”

“I know firsthand how a quality education opens doors to opportunity. For 25 years, Teach for America has been working to improve the public education system by pairing ambitious and bright women and men with students who need them the most. While TFA corps members make a two year commitment to teaching, their commitment to education lasts a lifetime. I am honored to accept this award, and will continue to fight to ensure that every student is equipped to play and significant role in the 21st century workforce,” said Senator Mazie K. Hirono.

2016 Congressional Champions

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)

Rep. Susan W. Brooks (R-IN)

Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK)

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)

Sen. William Cassidy (R-LA)

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)

Chairman John Kline (R-MN)

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA))

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS)

Teach For America–Hawai‘i works in partnership with communities to expand educational opportunity for children facing the challenges of poverty. Founded in 2006 on O‘ahu and 2009 on Hawai‘i Island, Teach For America–Hawai‘i recruits and develops a diverse corps of outstanding college graduates and professionals to make an initial two-year commitment to teach in high-need schools and become lifelong leaders in the movement to end educational inequity. Our broader mission is to enlist, develop, and mobilize as many as possible of our nation’s most promising future leaders to grow and strengthen the movement for educational equity and excellence. As Teach For America–Hawai‘i nears its 10th anniversary, the organization has had a profound impact in the islands by recruiting and developing more than 700 teachers over the last decade, many of whom are working across career sectors—including education, law, business, medicine, and government—to improve the opportunities of young people and fight for educational equity.

Teach For America works in partnership with communities to expand educational opportunity for children facing the challenges of poverty. Founded in 1990, Teach For America recruits and develops a diverse corps of outstanding college graduates and professionals to make an initial two-year commitment to teach in high-need schools and become lifelong leaders in the effort to end educational inequity. Today, 8,600 corps members are teaching in 52 urban and rural regions across the country while more than 42,000 alumni work across sectors to ensure that all children have access to an excellent education. Teach For America is a proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.